City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Wallace, NC

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Wallace - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

3,438
Residents
$49,358
Median income
$192,800
Median home
$980
Median rent (state)

Wallace - the verdict

Nationally, Wallace sits in the 18th percentile for household income and the 10th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

18th
percentile, household income
41st
percentile, home value
18th
percentile, median rent
10th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Wallace, NC

North Carolina's Wallace is a small town, with 3,438 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $49,358 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 14.1%. Wallace's housing stock carries a median value of $192,800, and the median resident age is 44.3 years. About 14.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 54.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Wallace's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 3608.2 crimes per 100,000 residents, above the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score). NOAA puts Wallace's yearly average temperature at 62.0°F with 57.2 inches of precipitation per year and 0.7 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: the state registers 94.3 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $980 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $215 across North Carolina, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 89.4 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

3,438 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$49,358 /yr

Poverty 14.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Wallace compare to other US cities?

Here's how Wallace stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 18% higher than other cities
Home value 41% pricier than other cities
Median rent 18% pricier than other cities
Safety 10% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at North Carolina, Wallace ranks #143 of 195 North Carolina cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Wallace's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in North Carolina, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

18thIncome percentile
10thSafety percentile

18th percentile nationally for median household income · 10th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Wallace's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Wallace's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 33 Avg. percentile National median
Wallace's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Wallace's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$192,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 59% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Wallace $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Wallace, NC Wallace, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Wallace, NC-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Wallace, NC median $49,358/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Wallace, NC's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Wallace, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 14.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 14.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 54.9%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
3,438
Median Income
$49,358
Median Home Value
$192,800
Median Age
44.3
Poverty Rate
14.1%
Labor force participation
54.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
14.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3608.2
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
400.9
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
3207.3
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
62.0°F
Annual Precipitation
57.2"
Annual Snowfall
0.7"

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
3,300 residents3,400 residents3,500 residents3,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,377 residents 3,570 residents ▲ +5.7%
Wallace's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
91.5%
Carpool
7.4%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
1.1%

Based on 1,413 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for North Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$215
estimated/month

Estimates reflect North Carolina state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a North Carolina state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Wallace sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$980/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
89.4 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Rural Hall
3,421 people
Windsor
3,417 people
Enochville
3,392 people
Flat Rock
3,502 people
Red Oak
3,372 people
Elroy
3,507 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Wallace's 3,438 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Sleepy Eye, MN
3,438 people
Dennis Port, MA
3,439 people
West Nyack, NY
3,437 people
Somerville, TN
3,439 people
West Point, VA
3,439 people
Tashua, CT
3,436 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Wallace's $49,358 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Fort Madison, IA
$49,359 median income
Williamsport, PA
$49,363 median income
Zeeland, MI
$49,367 median income
Astoria, IL
$49,345 median income
Eek, AK
$49,375 median income
Hydaburg, AK
$49,375 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Wallace, NC Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Wallace, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 51.7% 26.7% 7.3% 12.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 15.5% White 51.7% Black or African American 26.7% Asian 0.0% American Indian 1.1% Native Hawaiian 1.0% Some other race 7.3% Two or more races 12.3% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Wallace compares to nearby North Carolina cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Wallace (this city) 3,438 $49,358
Rural Hall 3,421 $50,665
Windsor 3,417 $38,631
Enochville 3,392 $65,328
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Wallace, NC?

What is the population of Wallace, NC? +

3,438 people live in Wallace, NC according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Wallace, NC? +

In Wallace, the typical household earns $49,358 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Wallace? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Wallace; the closest available measure is the North Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 94.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within North Carolina vary by metro area.

Is Wallace, NC safe? +

Wallace has a total crime rate of 3608.2 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Wallace, NC? +

A typical home in Wallace is worth $192,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Wallace? +

Climate normals put Wallace's yearly average temperature at 62.0°F, 57.2 inches of precipitation, and 0.7 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.